Switch.



G. W. HART.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7,1910.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

G. W. HART. swrrca. APPLICATION FILED IULYV, 1910.

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(Z W HAW/1 5] wue wto'c Z2 6; 35% Rune? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GERALD W. HART, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUTfASSIGNOR TO THEIHART MAN- UFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW I JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Aug. 8, 1911.

Application filed July 7, 1910. Serial No. 570,695.

To all whom it may concern." I I Be it' known that I, GERALDdK l-lan'r, a citizen of the United States, residlng at West Hartford, county of Hartford, State of- Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exfact description.

switch which is closed electrically and locked mechanically and in which-the lock is re-- leased whenever the current ceases to How throu h the local circuit controller.

It urtherhas for its object to provide a switch which has aclosing coil and a locking'coil and means controlled by the locking coil for cutting the" closing coil out of circuit when the switch is locked.

My invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with switches used -on alternating current circuits, since with switches-embodying'my invention, the con tact of the'switch arm with the circuit terminals is not aflected by the alternations of the current, with the result that there is no vibration and consequent chattering e at the points of engagement.

. Fig. 3rsh0ws certain parts of Fig. 3 in different relations; Figs. 4; and 5 are Views of details, and Fig. 6 is a diagram of circuits.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents the switch base having main circuit terminals 22.

3 is a switch arm secured to but insulated from a support 4, which is adjustably connected to the core 5 by the screw-threaded post 6 which carries a set-nut 7 To the base 1 are secured'two cast frames 8 having two upright members as shown In Fig. 2, connected by three horizontal members 9-9 -9 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Between these cast frames is a fixed la1 ni-' nated magnetic core or yoke 10, Figs. and 3, which is held between the frames 88 by insulated rivets passing through said frames and the holes 11 of the laminated portion. This laminated core has two side members and three connecting members 1 212-12 which coincide respectively with the portions 99'.9 of the castings. Located a slight distance below the connecting portion 12 is a cast plate 13,

suitably secured to the cast iron portions by screws 13. This plate has a recess 1 1 adapted to partially receive two balls 15 for the purpose hereinafter described. Below the plate 13 is a coil16 of a fairly low resistance but sufiiciently high to carry current at the normal voltage'of the circuit for a period somewhat longer than that necessary to close the switch. Above the crossbar 12 is another coil made up of two sections 17-17. It is made in two sections so that it may be placed in position although the laminated frame has a downward projection 18 constituting a partial stationary core. The two sections 17-17 are introduced one at a time, section 17 be ing placed in position first, whereupon section 17 can be slipped in.-

The portion 13 with its recess 14; for the balls 15 constitutes a stationary abutment.

Within the coils 17-17',is a core 19 having laminations parallel to the laminations of the stationary core 10. Through this core 19 runsanon-magnetic rod 20, the lower end of which is secured to a movable abutment 21 having a recess 22, which, when the core 19 is in a depressed position, comes opposite the balls 15. The laminated portion of the. core 19 bears against the top of the movable abutinent and is held from upward movement on the rod 20 by a shoulder 20 from which it is separated by a fiber washer. To the upper end of the core 5 is connected a square projection 28 having a round bore to receive the abutment 21 and also holes 24 through which the balls 15 may pass. This square projection 23 constitutes an intermediate memberlying between the stationary abutment 13 and the movable abutment 21. The wall of this intermediate member 23 should be slightly greater. than one-half the diameter of the balls 15, and the recesses in the stationary and. movable abutmentsshould be correspondingly less than half the diameter of said balls so that the hole in the intermediate member and a recess in one of the abutments will together have sufficient capacity to receive and contain a ball 15.

The upper part of the core 10 surrounding the coils 1717. together. with the core 19 are laminated when the switch is intended for alternating current circuits since these parts will be subjected to an alternatingflux for extended periods and would otherwise have eddy currents generated therein. Lamination of the lower part of thg'i core 10 and the core 5 is not so necessai'y since these parts are subjected to alternating magnetic flux for at most very brief periods. For this reason although I have shown the lower portion of the core 10 laminated I have not laminated the lower core. ()n the upper flange 9 of the frame 8 I mount an auxiliary or supplemental circuit controller. This consists of a standard 25 carrying insulated contacts 2626 which are adapted to be engaged by a bridging contact 27 carried by, but insulated from, a bell-crank 28 pivoted at 29 and having a rearward extension engaged by a spring 30 mounted in the standard 25. The free end of the bell-crank is thus held in mechanical connection with an adjustable button 31 screw-threaded upon the bar 20 andv locked in position by a lock-nut 32, during the latter part of the upward movement of the core 19. lVhen the bar 20 connected to the core 19 is raised to its highest position, the button 31 actuates the bell-crank 28 so as to separate the movable contact 27 from the stationary contacts 2626 and thus interrupts a circuit through said stationary contacts.

33 is a'fuse mounted on the casting 8 in series with the coils, 16, 17, 17, as shown in Fig. 6.

The diagram, Fig. 6, shows the preferred circuit connections: for the switch. In this diagram, 50 and 5:15am the mains of the circuit controlled bythe switch. 52 are the translating devices. 53 is a local circuit controller, one contact of which is connected to the main 51. 33 is the fuse, to one terminal of which. the other contact of the local circuit cc:;.trolle'r 53 is connected. To the other terminal of the fuse are connected two parallel circuits, one passing through the coils 1717 to the main 50 and the other passing through the contacts 26, 27, 26 and the coil 16 to the main 50. The operation of the apparatus is as fol lows: When the local circuit controller 53 is open the switch arm 3 is separated from the contacts 22' so as to open the switch as shown in the diagram, Fig. 6, and the contact member 27 is in engagement with the stationary contacts 2626. The movable abutment will then be in its lowermost position, the balls being contained in the holes 24 and 22 so that the movable abutment 21 and intermediate nie'mber 23 are locked together. The balls, holes 24: and recess 22 willhave also moved below the recess 14, as shown in Fig. 3*. If new the local circuit controller 53 is closed, the circuit is completed through the coils 16, 17, 17. The coil 16 is the most powerful coil and constitutes the switch-closing coil. It acts upon the core 5 to raise the switch arm so asto engage the contacts 22. The coils 1717 are simultaneously energized and act upon the core 19 to lift it. The lifting power of the coils 1717 is, however, preferably such that they will dolittle more than lift the core 19 and hold it in supported position against the action of the spring 30, although incidentally they may assist the coil 16 somewhat in lifting the switch arm. The coil 17-17 must, however, have such a number of turns that on account of its resistance it will be able to withstand for an indefinite period the heating of such current as may pass through it. lVhen the switch arm has been lifted into closed position, the intermediate member 23 connected to its core 5 will have been raised until the balls 15 carried thereby are opposite the recesses 14 in the stationary abutment 13. The balls contained in the holes 24 and recess 22 of the movable abutment 21 are then opposite the'recesses 14; in the abutment 13. The movable abutment 21, on account of the action of the coils 17-17', tends to move still farther upward and in so moving forces the ba1ls15 through the holes 24- in the inter- '.n1ediate member 23 into the recesses 11 of the stationary abutment 13 and holds them locked in that position. The switch arm 3 is now mechanically locked in position and is held in that position irrespective of the condition of the lower coil 16. The-latter part of the upward movement of the core 19 moves the bell-crank 28 against the resistance of its spring 30 so as to withdraw the movable contact 27 from the contacts 26 and 26', which are, in the embodiment shown, in the circuit containing the lower coil 16. This breaks the circuitthrough the lower coil, the circuit through the upper high resistance coil 17 -17 being still maintained, and the current therethrough being sufficient to hold the armature 19 in elevated posit-ion maintains the switch arm locked to the stationary abutment 13. As long as the local circuit controller 53 is closed and normal potential is impressed upon the mains, the switch, when once closed, will remain closed, being mechanically locked. If, however, the switch 53 is open or the current fails in the coil 17-17 the core 19 will fall until its recess 22 comes .opposite the balls 15, whereupon the tendency of the switch. arm and its core to move ,move to open position. The core 19 is carried downward by the movement of the switch arm, being at that time locked to the intermediate member on account of the engagement of the balls with the movable abutment 21. The downward movement of vthe switch arm and the cores '5 and 9 is limited by the. engagement of the nut 32 {with the top of the'laminated yoke 10. The switch arm is kept in alinement with the circuit terminals 2, 2', by reason of the fact that the core 5 is square and fits in a correspondingly shaped opening formed by the laminated portion 10 and the castings 8, 8. The upper core 19 is also kept from turning by reason of its rectangular shape fitting in a, corresponding hole so that its laminations are maintained parallel to the laminations' .of the stationary laminated portion 10.

If the switch 53 remains closed during a ffperiod in which the current fails and then ,[comes on again,- the switch will be automati- {cally openedand automatically closed again lockedin its closed position. The mechani- [:[cal locking of the switch arm makes a firm {and positive-contact, entirely independent 'of the alternations of the current when the circuit is an alternating current circuit. ,The fact that the lock is released and the switch is opened whenever thecurrent fails rmits thee-switch to be controlled from a distance by the mere opening and closing of the local circuit controller 53. The ball detentwith its hardened spherical surface 'nables it to withstand wear and act without seriously abrading co-acting surfaces.

The invention permits of various modifications which will be evident to those skilled in the art, which modifications can be made without departing from the spirit thereof and will be within the'scope of the appended claims. v

WVhat I claim: is:

1. In a switch, the combination of switch contacts, 'a switch arm adapted to engage therewith and normally tending to move away therefrom, a core connected to said arm, a solenoid acting on said core to move said arm into engagement wit-h said contacts, a lock for holding said core in actuated position. a solenoid for actuating said lock, said solenoids being connected in shunt to the circuit controlled by said switch arm,

and a manualdocal circuit controller in series with both. of said solenoids.

2. In a switch, the combination of switch contacts, a switch arm adapted to engage therewith and normally tending to move "'away therefrom a core connected to said fas soon as the currentcomes on and be re-' arm, a solenoid acting on said' core to move saidarm into engagement with sald contacts, a lock for holding said core in actuated position, a second core controlling said I 7o lock, a solenoid for actuating said second core, said solenoids being connected in shunt to the circuit controlled by said switch arm, a local circuit controller for cutting out said firstsolenoid and controlled by said second core so as to be actuated thereby when the same is moved by its solenoid, and a manual local circuit controller in series with both of said solenoids.

3. In a switch, the combination .of switch contacts, a switcharm adapted to engage therewith and normally tending to move away therefrom, a core connected to said arm, a solenoid acting onsaid core to move said arm into engagement with said contacts, a lock for holding said core in actuated position, a second core for cont-rolling said lock, a solenoid for actuating said second core, local circults for said solenoids con nectedin parallel, a circuit controller inthe local ClICtllllfOI' said first solenoid controlled by said second core so as to be opened when said second core is actuated by its-solenoid,

and a manual circuit controller in series with both of said solenoids.

4. In a switch, the combination of switch contacts, a switch arm adapted to engage therewith and normally tending to move away therefrom, a core connected to said solenoid, a switch closing solenoid acting on said core, a lock, a core therefor-in line with said first core, a solenoid for actuating said second core and in line with said first solenoid, two local circuits for said solenoids connected in parallel, a manual local circuit controller in series with both ofsaid circuits and an auxiliary local circuit controller in the local circuit of said first solenoid and controlled by said second core so as to be opened thereby when said second solenoid is energized.

5. In a switch, the combination of switch contacts, a switch arm adapted to engage therewith and normally tending to move away therefrom, a core connected to said solenoid, a switch closing solenoid acting on said core, a lock, a laminated core therefor in line with said first core, a solenoid for actuating said second core and in line with said first solenoid, two local circuits for said solenoids connected in parallel, a manual local circuit controller in series with both of said circuits, an auxiliary local circuit controller in the local circuit of said first solenoid and controlled by said second core so as to be opened thereby when said second solenoid is energized and a laminated magnetic circuit for said second solenoid.

6. In a switch, the combination of switch contacts, a switch arm adapted to engage the same and normally tending to move away therefrom, a core connected to said arm, a switch closing solenoid surrounding said core, a stationary abutment adjacent to said core, amovable abutment in proximity to said stationary abutment, an intermediate meinbcr lying between said two abntments and connected to said core, a detent carried by said intermediate abutment, recesses in said movable and stationary abutments adapted to partially receive said detent al-. ternately, a core for controlling said movable abutment, a second solenoid surrounding said core, said solenoids being connected in shunt to the main circuit, a circuit controller for cutting out said first solenoid, and controlled by said second core so as to be opened when said second solenoid is energized to move said detent, and a manual circuit controller in series with both of said local circuits.

7. In a switch, the combination of switch contacts, a switch' arm adapted to engage the same and normally tending to move away therefrom, a core connected to said arm, a switch closing solenoid surrounding said core, a stationary'abutment adjacent to said core, a movable abutment in proximity to said stationary abutment, an intermediate member lying between said two abutments and connected to said core, a detent carried by said intermediate abutment, recesses in said movable and stationary abutments adapted to partially receive said detent alternately, a core connected to said movable abutment, a second solenoid surrounding said core, local circuits for said solenoids connecting the same in parallel, a circuit controller in the circuit of said first solenoid, controlled by said second core so as to be opened when said second solenoid is en- 40 ergized to move said detent, and a manual circuit controller in series with both of said local circuits.

8. In a switch, the combination of switch contacts, a movable switch arm adapted to engage therewith, a vertically movable member connected to said switch arm and having a passage therein, a second vertically movable member having a recess therein, a stationary abutment having a recess therein, a detent in said passage in said first 1novable member adapted to extend through said passage and partially enter said recesses alternately, said movable members being adapted to move so as to bring both of said recesses and said passage siluultancmisly in register, a solenoid acting on said first member for moving it so as to muse said switch arm to engage said contacts and to bring said passage and recesses simultaneously in register, a second solenoid acting on said second member for moving it when said passage is in register with the recess in said stationary abutment so that the recess in said second member will move out of register with said passage, and a manual circuit controller for said solenoid.

G. E. PALMER, H. B. BROWNELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

